I wrote to my MP, Mark Tami, about the situation in Gaza and was very pleased with the response I got. I didn’t feel I could blog it without his permission, but I’ve had that (along with some very kind comments about the blog, which is always gratifying) so here’s an extract from his letter.
I have strong criticism for both sides too. On the one hand Hamas appears to be waging violent attacks that it knows will only lead to suffering for ordinary Palestinians, while Israel has responded in wholly disproportionate manner that does reflect in any way how a democracy should operate.
I was also deeply alarmed by the banning of two Islamic political parties in Israel. This is a dangerous step and one that should be challenged by the international convnunity. We have extremists in the form of the BNP who we could consider a threat to British security and our way of life. But I would sooner challenge them at the ballot box than have them forced underground. The Israelis claim that the two parties are opposed to Zionist ambitions, but on these tenuous grounds we could ban Welsh and Scottish nationalists from standing in UK elections. Likewise, the international community should be totally united in demanding a ceasefire. The present administration in Washington abstained on this vital issue, which I consider a grotesque absolution of responsibility.
Enclosed is a copy of my letter to the Foreign Secretary, which is self-explanatory. I will of course
forward the reply as soon as I receive it
Anyone who has read this blog recently will recognize that my MP’s views accord strongly with my own, but that isn’t why I’m blogging them. The situation in Gaza has moved on, thank God.
No, the main point here is just to illustrate that in a democracy our duties as citizens goes beyond turning out at the polling stations every four or five years. Part of our responsibility is to engage seriously with our elected representatives so that they can genuinely speak and act on our behalf. Mark’s letter demonstrates that such engagement is worth the effort.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Dave 01.20.09 at 9:02 am
You are of course right in the point you make, yet still few people engage with their elected representatives. I must say that the general feeling, and perhaps one that politics has perpetuated in recent years, amongst myself and my peers (well the ones I know and talk to, I can’t talk for an entire generation
) is that why bother, it wont make a difference. Perhaps in many ways this is related to our want for bigger and better things and instant gratification at our request. Posting a letter may not end a war, or may not end a war the same day - but as your reply has shown it does provoke response and action.
Perhaps this apathy we (some) feel towards our governements and MP’s decisions and prioroties is something that needs addressing - much like communicating the gospel effectively
Take Care and God Bless